Thursday, August 30, 2012

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that showcases newly acquired books or goodies we bought, received or borrowed during the week.

*04/2016 EDIT: Tweaking the format to match the new blog theme.*

My friend Kitty recommended several books to me (she's a fellow bookworm) last year HERE. Since then, I've been striving to save so I can get MORE books but this one's been a pain in the *. After more than a year of scouring bookstores, I was finally able to get this the other day! Since it was published years back, it's really difficult to have it in stock here and when I saw the last piece, I grabbed it without hesitations. I know I was supposed to be on book buying ban until October but I've learned the feeling for having an extreme episode of withdrawal syndrome and buying this made me feel seriously satisfied.

His eyes, Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other, gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and strange. She was surprised that they hadn't shone in the darkness of their first meeting. They didn't seem human.

Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.

Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whatever game he was playing, if he expected her to join him he would be disappointed.

In a world where people born with an extreme skill - called a Grace - are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of the skill even she despises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graces with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away...a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

Another book I had sitting on my shelf for months now that seriously took me time to find. I saw this book from some of my favorite author's book cases and when I checked the summary on GoodReads, I knew that I have to get it. Reviews and recommendations topped my high expectations and I am actually happy that the story did not disappoint me as finding it did.

I finished the story in 3 days. Not because I wasn't cutting it out but I savored every chapter there was to it. Lady Katsa, together with Lord Giddon and Oll, went to the dungeons of King Murgon of Sunder to save grandfather Tealiff of Lieden Kingdom from being held prisoner. He was kidnapped for some unknown reason and since Lady Katsa was gifted with the extreme ability to kill (that fighting an army would just be a piece of cake for her), she used her discomfort about it by starting an underground Council. On their way out of the dungeons, Po saw her and she froze when he stared into her eyes because no one ever dared stare at her and no one fought her the way he did. And that's when the story progressed to something full of action with a little bit of drama.

Kristin Cashore's debut novel left me in awe. I loved every little thing that revolved and evolved in this story. The pace might have been too slow and heavy for me, but it made me more eager to finish it. Setting it on a world peopled with kings and queens made me instantly picture the A Game of Thrones setup and it was just solely astonishing. My mind actually processed the lines of the characters with a different accent! The way I also learned about being Graced as I went deeper the story made this book completely 'unputdownable'.

When I think about it, the plot was just very simple. But what made it extraordinary I guess would be the way it was told, the mix of different personalities and the emotions each character brought. Anyone who has read this can say that Lady Katsa was one of the strongest protagonists ever written. She's self-suffient, short-tempered, rational and independent. Initially she had issues with trust but eventually loosen up with Prince Po's help. The romance wasn't too heavy because the main plot still remained afloat and I'm just glad that it balanced the story. Lady Katsa's strong personality and Prince Po gentleness/selflessness merged together so perfectly like a yin and a yang. I thought Katsa would be a difficult character but as it turned out, she progressed from being a cold-hearted Graced killer to a soft-hearted Graced princess and again, thanks to Po. Helda, Oll, Giddon, Raffin, Bitterblue, Ror, Skye and Lec were some of the characters that gave life to this amazing book and without their striking roles, the story would have been boring altogether. There were some chapters where my heart almost exploded with happiness and pain, surely satisfying for such high-praised story that left me craving for more.

Fire? Of course I will do my best to get a copy as soon as my Book Buying Ban is lifted. I would try not to set my expectations high because I would just like the book to surprise and captivate me just like Graceling did. Another series that will be added to my favorites!

"When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster? Did it become something else?"

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter? I think this would be another fantastic time travel novel! The moment I've read the summary last May, it just left me asking for more! Really really looking forward to reading this!

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

If you have been following me on Twitter, you would know how long I have searched for a copy of this one. After I've read its summary on Good Reads, I instantly knew that it would not disappoint me. I roamed several bookstore in different malls within the metro and some friends even tried to find one for me in nearby provinces. It took almost half a year before I was able to score one hard bound copy. I nearly gave up on finding it but now am glad I didn't.

Kate and her sister Georgia lost their parents in a horrible car crash that they were forced to move to France to live with their grandparents. Georgia used clubbing as an escape while Kate took it worse. She was drowning herself with books most of the time but when her grandparents started worrying about her, she tried going out and continue to read in cafes around. She was starting to pull herself together when she saw Vincent, a very handsome teen with a mysterious aura and magnetic eyes that later she saw on a obituary in 1968.

Aside from its captivating cover and summary, one of the few things this made me drool over it was where the story took place -- PARIS. Finally, just something outside USA! I am obsessed with Eiffel Tower and a lot of beautiful things from there that I always see on Tumblr and this book fed me so much more. From the romantic scenes to the breathtaking museums, every description of each place made me feel I was personally there. Now onto the story. For sure this review would not make justice to how good the story is but nonetheless, I would express it diligently. Kate made me adore her. Not because she almost had a breakdown somewhere along the story or she developed from depressed-girl to such a brave sixteen-year old but the natural way of how she rationalizes adversaries. At first I thought she would easily be swept by the strong feelings she had for Vincent but still she tried to do what's best for her or should I say, she did what a person's supposed to do in such given situation. It tore her apart to such extent that readers would definitely feel the pain pouring out of the pages and still stood by her decision. Honestly, that's one trait I seldom see on protagonists these days.

Vincent on the other hand, was a true Romeo. He's romantic, full of surprises, loving and gentleman. He didn't take advantage of Kate when there was an opportunity and he politely mingled with Kate's family. He explained what he was in a manner that Kate would understand and gave her the chance to decide about it. The way he let himself torment over Kate's choice to live a normal life was just truly heartbreaking. And lastly, the love letter he wrote was the next best thing he did after his gift for Kate's birthday!

Revenants was definitely something fresh for me and I totally loved the idea. Just like Kate, I felt sick to my stomach thinking of someone dying over and over again to save somebody else's life. It is heroic but still, I wouldn't be able to stand it. I also loved the fact that it did not completely focus on the romance aspect but showcased history, family values and a whole new place where some of us do not go to everyday. The only little glitch I saw was when Lucien tried scaring/blackmailing Kate that she could've texted Vincent's kindreds to come help her. All in all, I wish I could give one thousand stars to this one but I could only give a perfect five. Now I just have to ask my brother to get me Until I Die as a birthday gift (in advance).

One last thing, move over Twilight. Die for Me will be sitting on the pedestal now!

"I can't promise you an ordinary experience, Kate. I wish I could transform myself into a normal man and be there for you, always, without the trauma that defines my life as "the walking dead." Since that isn't possible, I can only reassure you that I will do everything in my power to make it up to you. To give you more than a normal boyfriend could. I have no idea what that will mean, exactly, but I'm looking forward to finding out. With you."

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,To storm or fire the world must fall. An oath to keep with a final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring any bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth.

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over her mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Again, just like some of the books I purchased last year, this one has been sitting on my shelf for quite sometime now. I remember rushing over to the nearest book store as soon as it was released and the feeling of accomplishment was just surreal. Unfortunately, due to work and other things I got myself busy about, it was left untouched up until the other day.

This sequel to The Lost Hero has the same concept only this time, it was Percy, Hazel and Frank battling several giants and gods to free the god of Death Thanatos who has been chained by giant Alcyoneus in Alaska. He has to be freed in order to close the Door of Death so monsters and others who went back from the dead would not regenerate and die permanently. Percy's so as Jason's memories were wiped clean and they were switched from their respective camps to unite Roman and Greek demi/gods to stop Gaea from awaking and destroying the world.

I liked how strong the flow of consistency of this book from its previous book. I really think this could stand on its own. Though the story focused on Roman (book one Greek), I have never felt lost along the pages because the author made sure that every little detail is well explained. There has been an additional lift from some of the character's sense of humor that prevented me from getting bored plus how the characters managed to find their own strength with just a little help from their parents which are gods. Percy as we all know has always been strategic with battles, his memory loss didn't stop him from being loyal to his new found friends and his longings made him stronger everyday. The way Hazel accepted her fate after several years of being trapped with guilt made her character emotionally tough and mature. But my favorite character was Frank. Seeing him grow one chapter at a time made the whole story packed with excitement and awe. He's shown pessimism though inside he has low self-esteem. At first I thought he was another whiny character but when he allowed himself to grasp the prophecy, him being centurion and the fact that his life lies on a piece of firewood made me look at him as one of the best characters ever made. His love for his family, respect and trust for his friends and his humility made him stronger. He took his time to learn his family's power and was even willing to sacrifice his life to free Thanatos.

I also appreciated that there's a map in this book. It made me visualize Camp Jupiter easily and I wish there would be one for Rome/Greece added in the upcoming books. There's just one single flaw I noticed during the trio's travel to Alcyoneus's lair in the mountains. Despite the time pressure they're under, the trio still had the luxury to sit, dine and take a bath which I think could've have been improved. But the rest was phenomenal.

This October, Mark of Athena will be released and I am honestly happy that this series would be around five books. I badly want to see how Hazel, Leo and Frank would turn out!

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Another book that received so many praises that no book blogger/lover should miss. I haven't read Maggie Stiefvater's The Wolves of Mercy Falls or Book of Faerie series but I've been dying to and this one would definitely be added to my "Books to buy" list!

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper. His best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids”, as Leo puts it. What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea — except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father, a famous actor, has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.

An eternity after, I was able to finish this book. I've had this sitting on my shelf (among others) for more than a year now. I guess I wasn't really ready yet for another adventure book after the The Kane Chronicles books 1 and 2 I've finished during the summer of last year. They were just awesome! And I couldn't be any happier that I've read this one (though too late) just after I've detached myself from such a powerful story.

Jason Grace was a typical boy who all of a sudden woke up in a bus not remembering who he was or anything at all. Leo claimed he was his best friend Piper's his girlfriend. They were sent to summer camp where their coach, a satyr named Gleeson, fought and saved them from storm spirits. A great prophecy will test their loyalty, love and friendship. Their quest started when the trio had to save Olympus from being destroyed by freeing Queen Hera from being held prison by Enceladus so they could stop Porphyrion from rising and Mother Gaea from fully awakening.

Greek and Roman mythology was explained very well on the story even the minor details such as slight difference in forms or names. Its as if you're reading a history book but on a totally different attitude. Just like the The Kane Chronicles, the author put so much in this through research and you would definitely see how much he's passionate about mythology! I only had issues understanding the first several chapters maybe because I honestly haven't read the The Percy Jackson series yet that am not sure if it was a good idea because Percy seemed to be one of the major characters of this series. There was so much going on, they had to fight gods before reaching the one they're really supposed to destroy, how they travel from one state to the other that I got lost along the way. Like a maze inside a maze. After sometime, I was able to get back on track and understood that everything made sense at the end.

Jason showed bravery not only in dealing with the gods/monsters he fought but the way he handled himself despite his memory loss. He did trust his friends and showed that he could also be trusted. Leo and Piper on the other hand not only showed intelligence and beauty but love, courage and faith. Festus was my favorite part and though Gleeson was initially just a boastful character, he did redeem himself by merely volunteering as a protector for Tristan.

As I turn page one of the second book, I honestly don't know what to expect. I may have had slight issues with this but the way it made me addicted to the roller-coaster quest was just worth the time I invested! Let's go see what happens next, shall we?

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that showcases newly acquired books or goodies we bought, received or borrowed during the week.

Yesterday was our much awaited pay day and since we've experienced floodings these past couple of weeks, my trip to National Bookstore Cut-off sale was cancelled. As soon as I came out of the office, I headed straight to NBS Glorietta 5 only to be a little disappointed. They have a lot of titles on 70% off but most of them were not YAs, the titles I really want were all unavailable, I also found some awesome YA ones but couldn't find the first part of the series and the ones I bagged were on 20% off:

After almost an hour of finding-grabbing-dropping-getting-deciding drama at NBS, I decided to check out Powerbooks (NBS and Powerbooks are sister companies) but nada. Then dropped by the nearest Bibliarch Branch in the area and as soon as I entered the door, these were the babies greeted me:

I felt like the world stop for a second and I immediately grabbed them and went home!Then when I was taking pictures I realized that I overspent! Now I have to suffer for about a week or 2 at work because of what just transpired! I was even tempted to buy Something Strange and Deadly (but it was as pricey as the The Iron King so next time would do) and I don't have the Throne of Glass yet! That made me feel terrible! The only thing that makes me smile is I HAVE BOOKS.

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t..

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.You're born with TWO souls? One body, two souls? Not only a mind-blowing plot but super intriguing! Knowing that it will never happen in real life, I'm itching to read this to see how well (or not) the author have given justice to the plot and why many good reviews have been given to it!

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie.

Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders - seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wake up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson.

It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party - and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined.

When I first saw Starters' cover, I thought of several things: Yuna from Final fantasy because of the eye color, Elves from LOTR because of the eerie white hair and a little bit of Matrix because of the "sci-fi" background. Though it was expensive (hehe) for a paperback, I didn't have second thoughts in bagging a copy because aside from I love dystopian plots, its summary very much ignited my curiosity.

Callie, together with her best friend Michael and younger sibling Tyler, is an unclaimed minor that squatters in some abandoned buildings after her parents and everybody ages from twenty to sixty were wiped out of the Spore Genocide. Tyler was very sick that though she was doubtful in signing up with Prime Destinations, she has no choice but to make ways to have a better life. Old but super wealthy people called Enders pays generously just to rent Starters' bodies (like Callie) in order to live young once more though implanted chips in their heads. The first two rents were successful until the chip in Callie's head malfunctioned and woke up realizing that her renter, Mrs, Helena Winterhill, wants to assassin a senator that has a very gruesome plan and connection with Prime Destinations.

I really love this story. Callie was indeed one of those pretty awesome protagonists I've encountered. She's brave, in fact super brave, tough, selfless and mature. She showed that no matter how grave those complexities she's facing, one could still focus. The premise focused as a thrilling dystopian and made romance just a bonus. Yes, the similarity with Avatar is quite striking but it made its identity with its twists. I felt sick to my stomach when everything was revealed and made sense at the end. Who would have taught that Callie would get much involved in bringing Prime Destinations down even after getting more than she originally have signed for? My chest tightened when some of the characters died just to make her succeed but just a question, what happens to those elders who die while renting?

Starters definitely have showed that life is hard for a lot of people and just like Katniss from The Hunger Games, the love for your family would make you do any thing at any time just to see them better. I know this series would end in December and I am so looking forward to reading the end of this audacious YA novel!

"I knew that feeling, the sense of panic that stretched time, turning seconds into years, and the deep pain that came from being hurt by not one person but many, a gang of bullies that expanded into a neighborhood and then into a community, until you questioned the whole world. And your last thought, as you stretch your arm until your fingers are inches from that lifeline, is how if you survive, you'll find a way to help fix what was broken, so you can say that yes, you want to be part of the world again."